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    Chatham Manor

    4.8 (23 reviews)

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    Maria T.

    Gorgeous estate and perfect day trip! This magnificent manor has a spectacular view of the Rappahannock River and the Fredericksburg skyline! The entrance is exploding with color as you make your way through the manicured gardens. Mythological statues, wrought iron gates, an armillary sphere, stone walls, a circular cement bench, arches and coves, porticos, Civil War cannons, ancient trees, and archways are just some of the features you'll discover on these breathtaking grounds. The wisteria "natural gazebo" was my favorite spot. The back of the manor is just as grand as the front. Built by William Fitzhugh circa 1768, Chatham Manor was instrumental during the Civil War and served as Union headquarters as well as a hospital and food service for the soldiers. This stately Georgian style home has been restored to its former glory, but it has had a rich and remarkable history. After the war, it was left abandoned and foresaken, until its refurbishment in the 1920's. It's now one of Virginia's finest examples of architectural design during this era. The grounds, gardens and many outbuildings are meticulously kept and we thoroughly enjoyed meandering around the estate exploring every nook and cranny! Lovers of history will be impressed with everything this incredible home has to offer, or if you just want to get a fabulous view of the city, stand on the ridge overlooking the river and absorb the beauty!

    Laundry
    Chris C.

    Since my wife and I moved to Fredericksburg VA, we've been trying to visit the historical sights in the area. Since this town played such a big part in the American revolution as well as the Civil War, there is history anywhere you look. Today we decided to tour Chatham Manor, on Chatham Heights Road. The house was built in 1771, and has a long, very up and down history. There is a National Park Service employee there, but it's basically a self guided tour. The first floor is available to tour. There is a small gift shop corner as you enter. I know there are gardens in front, but since we went in February, they were dormant. There is a 13 minute video that the NPS employee can start, which tells all about the Manor, from when it was built in 1771, to when it was willed to the National Park Service 202 years later.

    Entrance
    Richard F.

    Chatham Manor, during the Civil War and the Battle of Fredericksburg, was briefly used as the Union Army Headquarters, then later as a field hospital during the Battle of Fredericksburg. After the war it was abandoned until it was given to the Park Service. Today Chatham Manor is part of Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park. Five of the ten rooms contain exhibits and the rest of the building as well as the outbuildings are park offices. They have done a wonderful job of restoring it to its original elegance and adding some of the many artifacts from the war. Check out the Signal Telegraph on display. It is well worth visiting when you are in the area. There are also some gorgeous gardens in the summer. The views out across the river are spectacular.

    TV doc
    Christian L.

    Chatham Manor is top notch. In Fredericksburg, Virginia you encounter this old mansion, that has roots into the far past - but played an integral role during the Civil War. Canons are placed on lawns. Chatham Manor was used as a staging ground, as a hospital and is located above the Rappahannock River, on a sunny bluff. From here, soldiers would have seen their beloved Fredericksburg shelled in the battles of the Civil War. Inside, and among the grounds, you can find lots to do: benches, gardens, shrub-mazes, artillery, there are video shows, history shows, portraits, antique furniture, colonial interpreters and warm rooms with seats, from which one can enjoy views of Fredericksburg. Great for walks. Rebel review: 5

    Stephanie G.

    This is part of the Fredericksburg battlefield tour and a really cool part. You get some good history on the house, a video to watch, can't go upstairs though, but the house looks beautiful and has a great view and grounds. Plus both rangers were really eager to talk about the history. I asked a simple question and got a how there was a whole debate about which side was the front and back and how new facts had been discovered, but it was mostly adorable how helpful and knowledgeable these guys were. It's free to come into and an interesting addition to the battlefields, so if you can't make all the steps, this is a very good one.

    Reyna P.

    Chatham Manor is a definite must-see if you are visiting Fredericksburg. There is no cost to enter the house or walk the grounds. I have visited the grounds in the spring and just recently while snowing, and both seasons offered beautiful views. The inside of the house isn't very impressive, but it's understandable considering the changes that the home undertook specifically during the Civil War. The gardens around the house and the views of the river and downtown Fredericksburg make the visit more than worth it. Plus it's free, you can't beat free!

    Kelly G.

    Built in 1771, the house is apart of the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park. The buildings and grounds are open daily from 9:00am-4:30. Also, admission is free but donations are accepted and appreciated. Five of the ten rooms contain exhibits. We got here a little bit later in the day and had only about 40 minutes inside the house. This was enough time to watch their video and walk through the house and read the displays. I felt like the displays were a little lacking . This might be because over the course of our road trip we visited some really modern and great museums . I just felt like they didn't really do a good job displaying and explaining how much history the house had. House was built by a wealthy couple and was abandoned during the Civil War. During the battle of Fredericksburg the house served as a headquarters and hospital for the Union army. I have read accounts of how bloody the house was and bodies stacked on every square inch of floor . I think it's important to reflect on this to really understand how devastating this time was for both sides. Many notable people have visited Chatham including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Robert E. Lee, Abraham Lincoln, Clara Barton and Walt Whitman. The house has a beautiful formal garden and its location overlooking the Rappahannock River offers a very pretty view of the city. It's definitely worth a visit I just hope they consider updating how they present the history of the house because the way it is now it really is hard to appreciate and really grasp all the horror that occurred here during the war, and appreciate the notable people that visited .

    Steve S.

    One of the reasons I LOVE bringing my son with us on trips down south (as opposed to letting him stay with friends) is because he loves historical stops as much as I do...so yeah, we get to need-out. We got a very late start after a campus tour and meeting with a coach (for my daughter) so we didn't have a lot of time before places started closing. We decided to hit the Chatham Manor simply because it was close, but it's definitely a great stop off for you Civil War history buffs. I'm sure the place looks even better in the summer when the gardens and the roses on the stone trellises are in full bloom, but we were there for the Civil War info anyway. Check out the short video (which is actually shown in what was George Washington's bedroom when he would visit William Fitzhugh) about why the Chatham Manor was an important venue during the war and the brutality that led to the house being used as a makeshift hospital. The property was was a working farm prior to the war where slaves tended the fields and the owner during the Civil War J. Horace Lacy joined the Confederate Army and the family ultimately abandoned the farm...selling it later to pay taxes...and when it was abandoned it briefly became Union Headquarters. The guides working here were very helpful and one of the really interesting tidbits was that it is one of the few locations visited by both Washington and Lincoln.

    Chris L.

    Stopped by here on a whim and we were so glad that we did! It was an amazing site to see. A beautiful plantation overlooking the river with outstanding gardens and such cool history stretching back hundreds of years. And it's all free! The pictures really speak for themselves. They've done an outstanding job keeping up the gardens and the house itself. I can only imagine what it was once like, back in the 1700's entertaining some of the most wealthy & prominent people in the colonies. Be sure to check this place out on a visit to Fredericksburg. We will definitely visit again in the future.

    Mac O.

    Completed between 1768 and 1771, Chatham Manor was originally a 1,300 acre plantation owned by William Fitzhugh. Surrounding the manor house were outbuildings such as a dairy, ice house, barns, stables, kitchen, and slaves' quarters. Also on the property were a fish hatchery (in the Rapphannock River) and a racetrack where Fitzhugh pitted his thoroughbreds against those of other area plantation owners. Fitzhugh grew tired of the hundreds of guests who came to call -- including George Washington -- and moved to Alexandria to escape the perpetual entertaining (poor baby). Visitors in subsequent years under subsequent owners would include Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, Clara Barton, and Walt Whitman. In 1806 Ftizhugh sold Chatham to Churchill Jones, a former Major in the Continental Army, who owned the property until several years after the Civil War. Post-War, the home saw dozens of owners until purchased by John Lee Pratt, VP of General Motors, in 1931. When he passed in 1975, Pratt willed the estate to the National Park Service. Chatham's most important historical role was during the Civil War when it served as Union Army Headquarters for a time. General Ambrose Burnside used the home as a launch site for his troops to take the town of Fredericksburg, building a pontoon bridge from Chatham's property across the Rappahannock under cover of darkness in order for soldiers to cross. Fredericksburg was a disastrous Union defeat, however, and many of the nearly 13,000 casualties were brought back to Chatham, which had become a de facto military hospital (their graffiti -- names, corps, hometowns -- are still preserved on walls, window jambs, and fireplaces within Chatham). Initially, the dead were buried in graves on the property, but later moved to the Fredericksburg National Cemetery. Today visitors are welcome to stroll the beautiful grounds overlooking the town of Fredericksburg where Romantic gardens sprawl and several "witness trees" -- or trees that were here during the Civil War -- still stand. Helpful and well-informed Rangers and volunteers welcome you to the home with tons of background information about the house, grounds, and outbuildings. Many of the buildings were added post-War by later owners, such as the greenhouses and screened summer house. It's a wonderful, leisurely way to pass a beautiful morning or afternoon, and an incredibly informative stop on any Civil War tour of the area. I definitely recommend a visit to Chatham Manor.

    Civil War santa
    Pyrin L.

    Go when you can see some reenactment occurring. We enjoyed a Civil War drummer among other things. Lovely place.

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    Review Highlights - Chatham Manor

    From here, soldiers would have seen their beloved Fredericksburg shelled in the battles of the Civil War.

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    Alum Spring Park

    Alum Spring Park

    4.4
    (24 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    My husband & I stumbled upon this park when looking for things to do in Fredericksburg. We will be…read morerelocating in the coming months & wanted to get to know the area! The park is pretty big. There are a ton of trails, picnic tables, playgrounds for the kiddos, & a stream that runs all the way through the park. It's a great spot to take family photos and to enjoy one with nature! We love taking our dogs & letting them play in the stream. We have only gone to the park during the fall/winter time, so I can only assume how busy it is in the summer. The trails are dog friendly & we always stumble upon a new trail when visiting (who wants to do the same trail over & over again? Not me!). If you bring the doggies, make sure to also pack a towel & some water. There is no dedicated water station for them. I can't recall if there are poop stations along the trails, so bring those too! I also recommend calling the park ahead of time to see if they are open. There are times after a heavy rainfall that the stream is too high to cross with a vehicle. In this case, you'll have to park on the outside of the park. Another big thing is you have to drive pass an apartment complex (kinda weird I know) in order to enter the park. Don't be alarmed though! You will definitely see the park entrance if you keep going. I give this park a 5 star because it never disappoints. There is always something to do & my fur babies love it. I will definitely be back & can't wait to check it out in the summer! If you are in the Fredericksburg area, go to Alum Spring Park & enjoy the beautiful nature views!

    Great park and playground for kids. Beautiful streams and walking trails. Definite must visit in…read moreFredericksburg.

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    A great playground with grills and picnic tables
    A great playground with grills and picnic tables
    Alum Spring Park
    Alum Spring Park

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    The Meade Pyramid

    The Meade Pyramid

    4.5
    (4 reviews)
    4.0 mi

    While looking for the Pyramid, keep going to almost the very end of Lee Drive and you'll see the…read morePyramid past the railroad tracks in the distance to your left. And since you're visiting the Pyramid, take your time going down Lee Drive. Many Confederate fighting positions are still visible, including an artillery site and trench works. I found this to be more interesting than the Pyramid itself. While you can see the Pyramid from the road you can't get close to it, since it's on the other side of an active Amtrak line. About the battle: While the Union's river crossing on Day 1 and heroic attack on the Sunken Road at Marye's Heights on Day 3 get plenty of attention, Day 2 is often overlooked. In fact Meade's attack against the southern Confederate flank on Day 2 almost broke through their lines, but failed mostly because of poor communication between Union commanders. The "pyramid" stands near the point of the Union's greatest penetration. The "Slaughter Pen" (which has its own Yelp entry) is on the opposite side of the wood line. Unfortunately the Confederate and Union positions are separated by the railroad, so you can't walk the entire length of the battlefield. Funny thing about the Pyramid - it was actually built by southerners. The idea for a monument was pitched by the Confederate Memorial Literary Society to Virginia railroad execs who sought to memorialize the battle in a location visible to train travelers. The pyramid shape is based on the monument to the Unknown Confederate dead in Richmond.

    A very cool hidden gem in Fredericksburg - there is a path that you can walk down but I don't think…read moreyou're supposed to. There is a train track in between the path and the pyramid. You can pull off of the road and take pictures with a zoomed lens. It was a bit challenging to find - my Apple Maps took me to the wrong place (completely different battlefield!) but android seemed to have it down just fine. Just make sure you're going to the location near Lee Dr!

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    The Meade Pyramid
    The Meade Pyramid
    The Meade Pyramid

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    Chatham Manor - parks - Updated July 2026

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